Did Leo give the Academy the finger during Oscars speech?

HE finally won Best Actor — but with one simple gesture, did Leonardo DiCaprio give Academy voters a pointed message about taking so long?

WHEN Leonardo DiCaprio took home the Academy Award for Best Actor yesterday, he ended a drought of more than two decades that had seen him nominated four times without a single win.

And, if some pundits are to be believed, he used his time on stage to send a subtle message to Academy voters for overlooking him so many times before.

What was behind this strange Oscars snub?

Stallone’s brother livid at Oscars

DiCaprio was gracious in his speech, saying he “does not take this night for granted” and using his time on stage to bring awareness to climate change, “the most urgent threat affecting our species.”

But it was Leo’s body language that has many on social media buzzing. Just check out the placement of that middle finger as DiCaprio clutches onto his ‘Best Actor’ envelope:

Wait a minute — is he? Picture: Getty

OH NO HE DIDN’T. Picture: Getty

That’s right, Leo subtly flipped the bird — something many have interpreted as a message to the Academy for not awarding his four previous nominations: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, The Aviator, Blood Diamond and The Wolf of Wall Street.

That’s not including years in which he wasn’t even nominated for critically lauded roles, such as the 1998 Oscars when Titanic co-star Kate Winslet was nominated for Best Actress while he did not get a nod for his work alongside her.

Whether it’s an errant finger or a carefully-constructed message to the Academy, Leo’s fans think it’s pretty badass:

Leo giving the middle finger to all the haters out there who thought he couldn't do it. 😂😂#Oscars pic.twitter.com/m9X6Ua6NIr

— Darkness~ (@Hyper_Bandi) February 29, 2016

Leo showing middle finger to The Academy loooooool what a man pic.twitter.com/PaYFoIgzh6

— Bane (@thanseem27) February 29, 2016

Congrats to Leo for winning an Oscar and giving them the finger low key. pic.twitter.com/GWpdfGXaWL

— Balik (@itsBalik) February 29, 2016

Oh, Leo. That sassy, subtle middle finger. It can speak volumes toward those that wronged you. Just like Hugh Glass. pic.twitter.com/d6OoxAE8MF

— Cory (the original) (@CoryUnlimited) February 29, 2016

Honestly, this is our favourite shady Leo awards show moment since his hilarious caught-on-camera reaction to Lady Gaga at the Golden Globes back in January.

Originally published as Did Leo give the Academy the finger during Oscars speech?